The archipelagic country of the Philippines in Southeast Asia is the 13th most populous country in the world. As such, the country named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, gave to the world a large share of tourists. According to 2017 statistics, Filipinos filed 170,695 visa applications to the Schengen Area with an approval rate of over 80%.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from the Philippines requires from the applicant to follow some steps, including meeting the Schengen visa requirements.

Following in this article, you may find the necessary information on the application procedures for a Schengen Visa to 26 European countries.

Do Philippine citizens need a visa to enter Europe?

Yes, Philippine passport holders are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter any European country in the Schengen Zone.

Still, there are some categories of people residing in the Philippines, which are exempt from the visa requirement. These categories are as following:

Nationals of Schengen countries living in the Philippines

Nationals of countries that have established visa-free regime with the Schengen states, living in the Philippines*

Philippine passport holders, that hold dual citizenship:

Philippine citizenship and of one of the Schengen member states (These persons will have to travel with their European passport)

Philippine citizenship and of one of the countries that have visa-free regime with the Schengen Zone (These people will have to travel with their Schengen-visa-exempt-country passport)*

*Starting January 1, 2021, these categories of Philippine residents will have to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to Europe, in order to be allowed to enter the area.

Who can apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines?

Not everyone can apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines.

To be eligible to file your visa application at the Schengen embassies/consulates/VACs in Philippines, you must belong to one of the following categories:

Philippine passport holders

Third-world nationals, who are required to obtain a visa to Europe, living in Philippines under a permanent or temporary residence permit

How to apply for a Schengen visa in Philippines?

In order to apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines you must follow the steps listed below in the given order:

Check out which Schengen visa type you need. Depending on the purpose of your visit to Schengen Area, there are a few Schengen visa types for Philippines traveling to Europe.

Figure out where you need to submit your Schengen visa application in the Philippines. Pay attention to the embassy / consulate / VAC of which country you need to apply at, as well as under the jurisdiction of which you fall.

Find out when is the right and most favorable time to apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines.

Collect the required Schengen visa documents for Filipinos.

Make an appointment for a visa interview in the Philippines. You may have to make an appointment online, through phone, or in person. Below in this article, you can find more information for each embassy / consulate / VAC located in Philippines.

A Philippine valid passport or other travel document. This travel document should be no older than ten years, and with a validity of at least another three more months beyond your planned exit date from the Schengen Zone. It should also have at least two free pages for the visa sticker.

Evidence of legal residence in Philippines. – This could be a national ID card for Philippine nationals, or a Philippine residence permit for internationals.

Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A two-way flight reservation from the Philippines to a Schengen country and back. It should specify your entry and exit date as well as flight numbers.

Europe Travel Health Insurance. Purchase insurance for your whole period of stay in Europe, valid in all Schengen member states. It should have coverage of at least €30,000 for medical emergencies, as well as repatriation in case of death.

Proof of Accommodation. Some sort of document that shows where you will be accommodated during your stay in Europe, i.e. hotel booking, rent agreement, letter of invitation, etc.

A cover letter. In this letter, give more specific information on our trip, as the reasons why you want to visit the Schengen Area, which of the member states you wish to travel to, the amount of time you will be spending in this territory and other details about your trip.

Schengen visa requirements for Filipinos according to their employment status

Specific required documents, based on visa applicant’s employment status in Philippines are as following:

For Filipino employees:

Employment contract.

Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.

Leave permission from the employer.

Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

If your Schengen visa is rejected

In case you are denied from getting a visa, you will also receive a reason for this decision. Read this reason carefully! If you think you have been rejected by mistake, you can always appeal the decision.

On the other hand, if the decision has been taken justly, reapply by trying to avoid or correct the mistakes made in the previous application.

How much does a Schengen visa for Filipinos cost?

The Schengen Visa fees are €60 for all adult Filipinos. However, depending on their age and some other factors, there are categories exempt from paying the fee, or that at least benefit from the requirement of paying a lower fee.

Where to apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines?

Where you need to apply, depends on the number of countries you are going to visit, the days you will be spending in each, and the way that Schengen countries have regulated Schengen visa submission in the Philippines.

Applying for a visa to Austria in the Philippines

The Embassy of Austria in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications to Austria at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Manila or Cebu.

Applying for a visa to Belgium in the Philippines

The Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications to Belgium at the Visa Application Center located in Manila.

The VAC accepts Schengen visa applications every workday. Walk-in applications are accepted in all categories from 07:00 to 09:00, whereas from 09:00 to 14:00 are accepted applications by appointment only.

Applying for a visa to Czech Republic in the Philippines

The Czech Embassy in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications to Czech Republic at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Manila or Cebu.

The VACs accept Schengen visa applications on Mondays and Tuesdays. Walk-in applications are accepted in all categories from 07:00-09:00, whereas from 09:00–14:00 are accepted applications by appointment only.

Applying for a visa to Denmark in the Philippines

The Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Manila or Cebu.

The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday. Walk-in applications are accepted in all categories from 07:00 to 09:00, whereas from 09:00 to 14:00 are accepted applications by appointment only.

Applying for a visa to Estonia in the Philippines

The Royal Norwegian Embassy represents Estonia in issuing visas to Estonia for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Norway” section.

Applying for a visa to Finland in the Philippines

The Royal Norwegian Embassy represents Finland in issuing visas to Finland for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Norway” section.

Applying for a visa to France in the Philippines

The Embassy of France in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at the Visa Application Center located in Manila.

The VAC accepts Schengen visa applications every workday from 07:00 to 16:00.

Applying for a visa to Germany in the Philippines

The Embassy of Germany is the only responsible body for the admission and processing of Schengen Visa applications to Germany in Philippines.

Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at the German embassy in Manila. The Embassy accepts Schengen visa applications from Monday to Thursday starting at 08:00 to 14:30, and in Friday from 08:00 to 11:30.

Applying for a visa to Greece in the Philippines

The Embassy of Greece is the only responsible body for the admission and processing of Schengen Visa applications to Greece in Philippines.

Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at the Greek embassy in Manila. The Embassy accepts Schengen visa applications from Monday to Thursday starting at 08:00 to 12:00.

Applying for a visa to Hungary in the Philippines

The Embassy of Hungary is the only responsible establishment for the admission and processing of Schengen Visa applications to Hungary in Philippines.

Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at the Hungarian embassy in Manila. The Embassy accepts Schengen visa applications on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00.

Applying for a visa to Iceland in the Philippines

The Royal Norwegian Embassy represents Iceland in issuing visas to Iceland for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Norway” section.

Applying for a visa to Italy in the Philippines

The Embassy of Italy in Philippines is responsible for the admission and processing of Schengen Visa applications to Italy. However, applicants can also submit their applications at the VIA center (Visa Information and Application Center), an outsourcing company for the collection of applications.

The Italian Embassy in the Philippines accepts Schengen visa applications to Italy by appointment only, every weekday (except Thursday), from 9.00 to 12.00, Monday and Wednesday in the afternoon also, from 14.30 to 16.00.

The VIA Centers in Manila and Cebu accept Schengen visa applications to Italy, from Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 14:30 and Friday 08:00 to 13:30.

Applying for a visa to Latvia in the Philippines

The Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines represents Latvia in issuing visas to Latvia for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Netherlands” section.

Applying for a visa to Liechtenstein in the Philippines

The Embassy of the Switzerland in the Philippines represents Liechtenstein in issuing visas to Liechtenstein for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Switzerland” section.

Applying for a visa to Lithuania in the Philippines

The Austrian Embassy in the Philippines represents Lithuania in issuing visas to Lithuania for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Austria” section.

Applying for a visa to Luxembourg in the Philippines

The Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines represents Luxembourg in issuing visas to Luxembourg for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Belgium” section.

Applying for a visa to Malta in the Philippines

Malta has outsourced visa submission in the Philippines to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Manila or Cebu.

The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday from 12:00 to 15:00.

Applying for a visa to Netherlands in the Philippines

The Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at the Visa Application Center located in Manila.

The VAC accepts Schengen visa applications every workday from 08:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 15:00.

Applying for a visa to Norway in the Philippines

The Embassy of Norway in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Manila or Cebu.

The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday from 11:00 to 14:00.

Applying for a visa to Poland in the Philippines

The Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines represents Poland in issuing visas to Poland for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Netherlands” section.

Applying for a visa to Portugal in the Philippines

The Greek Embassy in the Philippines represents Portugal in issuing visas to Portugal for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Greece” section.

Applying for a visa to Slovakia in the Philippines

The Embassy of Czech Republic in the Philippines represents Slovakia in issuing visas to Slovakia for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Czech Republic” section.

Applying for a visa to Slovenia in the Philippines

The Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines represents Slovenia in issuing visas to Slovenia for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Belgium” section.

Applying for a visa to Spain in the Philippines

The Embassy of Spain in the Philippines has outsourced visa submission to BLS International. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at their Visa Application Center located in Manila.

The VAC accepts Schengen visa applications from Monday to Thursday starting at 07:00 to 11:00 and on Fridays starting at 07:00 to 09:00.

Applying for a visa to Sweden in the Philippines

The Embassy of Norway in the Philippines represents Sweden in issuing visas to Sweden for the residents of the Philippines. For more check the “Apply for a visa to Norway” section.

Applying for a visa to Switzerland in the Philippines

The Embassy of Switzerland has outsourced visa submission in the Philippines to VFS Global. Which means Filipino citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications to Switzerland at the Visa Application Center located in Manila.

The VAC accepts Schengen visa applications every workday from 07:00 to 14:00.